The 2021 NFL regular season is off and running. As usual, some teams have not lived up to expectations while others have exceeded and pretty much overachieved. During Week 8, we saw teams such as the Green Bay Packers dethrone the league’s only undefeated team at the time in the Arizona Cardinals.
On Sunday night, Kirk Cousins was not outplayed by Dak Prescott; instead, their backup quarterback Cooper Rush. Prescott was advised not to play in Sunday’s game as a precaution. He suffered a right calf strain in the Week 6 game against the New England Patriots. Cousins is not a quarterback that can elevate a team in a primetime setting, no matter the circumstances.
The Cincinnati Bengals went from putting the entire league on notice the previous week to allowing Jets back up Mike White to throw for over 400 yards passing and three touchdowns. The saying “on any given Sunday” remains a true statement. The Jets’ stellar performance against Cincinnati reassures everything about the “any given Sunday” mantra. Without any further delay, here are the top 15 team power rankings for Week 9.
1. Green Bay Packers: 7-1
They were able to go down Glendale and beat a really good Arizona team without the presence of Davante Adams. The game had a crazy ending that played into the Packers’ hands, but a win is a win regardless.
2. Dallas Cowboys: 6-1
It says a lot when a team can have a backup QB step in for their starter and make big plays in a primetime setting.
3. Los Angeles Rams: 7-1
They continue to dismantle the competition that’s in front of them. The Rams also decided to add another addition to their already loaded roster when they traded for linebacker Von Miller.
4. Arizona Cardinals: 7-1
Despite A.J. Green’s late-game blunder, the Cardinals will not experience a collapse in the second half of the season. They made all of the right plays to beat Green Bay, but sometimes things do not work out like you want them to. They may not hold on to the division lead in the NFC West, but they will be a formidable opponent for any team once the playoffs start.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 6-2
Tom Brady has changed the fortunes of the Buccaneers franchise. However, they have not figured out how to rattle the New Orleans Saints in the regular season. Brady’s overall record against New Orleans is 1-3. The December 19 rematch against the Saints could determine who has the inside track on winning the NFC South.
6. Buffalo Bills: 5-2
Their decision to go for it on fourth down in the Monday night matchup against Tennessee cost the Bills an opportunity to separate themselves from everyone else in the AFC. However, there’s still a lot of football left to be played, and the Bills can still become the team to represent the conference in the Super Bowl. In Week 8, the Buffalo rebounded from their Monday night loss by taking down the Miami Dolphins 26-11.
7. Tennessee Titans: 6-2
The Titans swept the season series with the Indianapolis Colts, but it came at a cost. Star running back Derrick Henry will be out for an extended period after suffering a foot injury against the Colts. He returned to the game, but the official report about the damage was released on the following day.
8. New Orleans Saints: 5-2
Not even a large majority of the Who Dat Nation expected the New Orleans Saints to be in the position that they are in right now. They have been through so much over the past six months. Their latest battle with adversity was when they lost their starting quarterback Jameis Winston to an injury in last Sunday’s game with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Saints defense and backup QB Trevor Siemian led the team to a 36-27 victory over the defending Super Bowl champions.
9. Las Vegas Raiders: 5-2
Quarterback Derek Carr is playing at an all-time best while under center for the Raiders. They currently sit on top of the AFC West and could run away with it if the Chargers and Chiefs continue to fall apart down the stretch.
10. Cincinnati Bengals: 5-3
Are the Cincinnati Bengals allergic to prosperity? Because that’s what it looked like against the New York Jets. Hopefully, last week’s loss was a lesson learned, and it will not linger on to future games.
11. Baltimore Ravens: 5-2
All hope is not lost for the Baltimore Ravens winning the AFC North. Even with the Ravens’ issues within the secondary, quarterback Lamar Jackson can mask those deficiencies. He is that good.
12. Pittsburgh Steelers: 4-3
Down but never out, the Steelers are definitely in the conversation to possibly win the AFC North. They have rallied to win three consecutive games and are one spot out of first place in the division.
13. New England Patriots: 4-4
New England has a record of 4-4 and is currently on the outside of the AFC playoff picture at the moment. If they get in, they could be a difficult matchup.
14. Carolina Panthers: 4-4
After all of the talk of Carolina trading for Deshaun Watson died down, Sam Darnold remains the Panthers man under center. How he performs in the future will determine if he is a long-term option in Charlotte. A playoff berth for the former first-round pick out of USC has to be a priority this season.
15. Kansas City Chiefs: 4-4
The Chiefs beat the Giants 20-17, but it wasn’t the style that we are used to seeing. If it weren’t for a few critical errors by the New York, the Chiefs would be 3-5 and not 4-4. Tough stretch ahead for the two-time AFC Super Bowl representatives.
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